Having jumped the gun on visiting uber-popular Moto Pho Co during its earliest days, I decided to wait a couple months before reviewing One Meatball Place, Moto Pho’s sister restaurant in both mien and conjoined location. On first sight, the space appears more cozy and contained than the pho restaurant to which One Meatball Place attaches, even sharing restroom facilities. The actual layout of the restaurant is relatively small, housing a long bar but only five tables. The combination of exposed brick, light wood accents, and large-screen TVs made for an elegantly simple yet comfortable atmosphere. The window booth in which my friends and I sat took in a… Read More
Posts Tagged Cuisine: American
One Meatball Place 
Nov 12
Given that I work right around the corner, I really had no excuse for taking so long to discover this excellent lunch spot. Matteus, the proprietor, is very friendly and serves up ridiculously large portions of great food. I should have eaten half of my sandwich on both occasions, but they were both so tasty that I couldn’t resist and waddled out of there feeling like I needed an early afternoon nap.
The first meal I had there was the tempeh reuben sandwich with a side of fries. I must admit that I have been vegetarian for so long that I have never had a… Read More
Bellair Market 
Sep 11
As much as I love a homemade meal or an elegant dinner, there are some days – or weeks – that don’t allow for leisurely dining. Though I’ve been known to knock back a couple Wendy’s junior cheeseburgers during a busy week, I decided to take a more local, and less greasy, approach to quick eats during this past week of moving and class-related chaos. Bellair Market, Tiger Fuel’s Ivy Road location, has always been my favorite sandwich stop in Charlottesville, but I’ve never loved it more than during a quick lunch break last Wednesday.
Though the shop consistently draws a large crowd from 12-2 on any given day of the week… Read More
I am a big fan of gazpacho. It’s so flavorful and there is zero guilt, no matter how much you eat. Today I walked over to Eppie’s to get myself a cup ($3.50! what a deal), and remembered something that not everyone knows: Eppie’s is a little hidden soup gem on the mall. They don’t overdo it by offering too many – they only have two soups per season. But they are all delicious.
The gazpacho at Eppie’s is blended nicely, garnished with finely chopped onions, cucumbers, chives, and peppers for those who like it a little chunky. The flavor is rather subtle at first but finishes with a nice kick. As… Read More
Let me just start this post with this: I hate beets. I have had several people tell me I am really missing out: “I could make beets for you and you would love it.” It’s never happened.
I was really excited for a new dining option on the mall and even happier to see they had a vegan option (vegan bun is available too). My excitement soon waned as I learned Citizen Burger Bar uses beets, along with quinoa and millet, for their vegan patties. Bold move, very bold. Beets are such a hit or miss item, I was surprised the… Read More
Plank Road Exchange
May 22
The closing of the Batesville Store was a miserable shame, and to the people responsible: what you’ve done is bad and you should feel bad. It was the perfect nearby getaway, music venue, food destination, the quintessential small town hangout. However, as one door closes, one more opens.
The brand new Plank Road Exchange is of course different from the Batesville Store with different guiding forces and a different overall feel. However, it basically looks the same and still offers delicious house-made foods and specials, frequent live music, and the lovely small-town charm. It’s new, of course, and still has kinks to work out, but the Exchange offers a wide selection… Read More
Positively 4th Street
Jun 13
A chalkboard outside of Positively 4th Street reads “Best Burger in Town”. If you’re going to make that proclamation only 10 yards from the entrance to a Five Guys, you had better be legit, right? Hamburgers occupy a special spot in the hearts of American diners. A well-constructed, perfectly cooked hamburger is a thing of beauty and is not to be messed with.
Upon settling in and evaluating the bill of fare at Positively 4th St, my hopes were high. The menu reads incredibly well (especially the burgers). Each selection is American comfort food at heart, but with a creative twist that entices and… Read More
The Batesville Store
Nov 30
When I was young, I was infatuated with a Spielberg-produced TV show called “Amazing Stories.” One episode was about an artistic ball turret gunner whose quaintly captivating drawings had a way of coming to life. I’m pretty sure he didn’t do any sketches of small-town restaurant-stores in rural Virginia, but if he had, they might have featured The Batesville Store.
If you’ve never heard of Batesville, it’s where you end up if you drive past the old Albemarle County Fair location on Plank Road, just off 29 South. You can’t miss it. It’s as if the tiny town of Batesville exists only to support the store… Read More
We recently asked for Facebook opinions on the best biscuits in town and were shocked by the responses. Bluegrass Grill & Bakery was the leader, although there was a strong anti-whole wheat contingent that disputed this pick. And the runner-up? Hardee’s. Seriously. I took it as a sign that we need better biscuits in this town, but after a Sunday brunch at l’etoile I think we’re doing just fine.
There are two options to enjoy the delicious biscuits with sausage gravy at l’etoile: a stand-alone starter biscuit ($6) or a mini pair of biscuits that’s part of the Star Breakfast ($10), where you can enjoy them with eggs any… Read More
It’s almost impossible for me to pass up brats when I see them on a menu or in a cart, especially at sporting events or anytime in the month of October. But I wasn’t sure I had ordered wisely (sorry, Snooki) when I saw these two meat-pops land under my nose.
How mistaken I was. Not only was it a wise decision but it was real smart too. Beer-soaked sausage with sweet braised onions atop a couple of stripes of mustard on a potato roll, with kettle chips on the side? Huzzah! Great texture, strong beer flavor, extra soft roll, everything just right.
For all you sausage-eating types… Read More
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